Orchestrating something more

Weber State University’s Department of Performing Arts will present the Symphonic Band, directed by Dr. Thomas Root, on Tuesday, Nov. 10 in the Browning Center for Performing Arts’ Austad Auditorium.
The performance and the world premiere of “Under the Rose” is dedicated to Tanner Holst. Holst was a band member and bassoonist for WSU who passed away last year. He had commented that he liked “Under the Rose,” which led to a new direction of the composition. A newer version was composed this past summer with portions featuring bassoon solos as a tribute to the memory of Holst.
Director of Orchestral Studies professor Michael Palumbo said he enjoyed working with Holst and thinks he would have gone on to succeed in a very fine professional career.
“Tanner was definitely one of our best music students,” Palumbo said. “He was a very young man, an excellent player and just a great guy. Everyone liked him a lot.”
Root, director of the Symphonic Band, is a nationally known composer, has worked at WSU for the past 26 years, and is the symphonic band conductor of “Under the Rose,” which is a work based on a short piano composition by JS Bach. This work is written in a theme that contains six variations. The work maintains the Baroque quality of the basic theme but is modern in its melodic and harmonic content.
“Under the Rose” will feature many soloists, delicate writing for double reeds and a challenging variation for the flute section. The highlight of the production is a massive fugue written in an 18th century style focusing on the use of strings and winds and will be followed by a closing chorale.
Another composition by Thomas Root that will be heard during the concert is “Desert Light,” which is a tone poem written to depict the beauty of southern Utah.
Along with “Under the Rose” and “Desert Light,” the band will also play several traditional works such as the “Star Spangled Banner,” “Masque” by English composer Kenneth Hesketh, and the “Second Symphony” by American composer James Barnes. Barnes is known for his major works composed for the United States Air Force Band. This composition required multiple soloists and featured virtuosic band writing. The “Second Symphony” is not performed very often because of its difficulty.
This performance is a general band concert. Palumbo said that people enjoy band concerts because there is a wide range of music that will please a diverse group of people.
Nick Meldrum, a member of the band, is pursuing a master’s degree and learned to play the drums about 10 years ago. Meldrum said he loves anything that deals with music.
“Music just helps clear your mind and ease your tension,” Meldrum said. “Whether you’re playing an instrument or just listening to it, music is valuable in everyone’s life.”
WSU sophomore Ginger Tracy agreed with Meldrum that music is a very important part of an individual’s life.
“I love music,” Tracy said. “I feel like it’s a pathway to the soul.” She said she’s been exposed to several music styles and despises some but still thinks it’s a good idea to try listening to different kinds of music.
The musical instruments involved in this concert are winds, brass and percussion instruments. Members of the band play a variety of these instruments and will move from one instrument to another during the concert.
Any money raised from the concert will go directly back into the music budget. Each time a show is done, a fee is charged to rent the performance room, and the profits help cover those costs.
The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will last about an hour and a half. Anyone over the age of eight can attend. Tickets can be purchased one hour before the show begins. The price is $5 or $4 for students and those with military identification.